Tourism in the Philippines will resume next month, marking a significant step forward for the sector.

From February 10, the Philippines will welcome vaccinated tourists as part of a government initiative to revive a tourism industry severely impacted by the pandemic, according to an announcement made on January 28.

The country, which boasts over 7,000 islands, had initially planned to reopen in December 2021, but these plans were postponed due to concerns surrounding the Omicron variant.

Nationals from 150 visa-exempt countries, including the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, Italy, and the US, will be granted entry to the Philippines.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat stated that the reopening will play a key role in restoring jobs, especially in tourism-dependent areas, and revitalizing businesses that had previously closed due to the pandemic.

Puyat announced that the government will lift quarantine requirements for returning Filipinos starting February 1, and for foreign tourists from February 10, provided they are vaccinated and have a negative Covid-19 test result.

Renowned for its stunning white sand beaches and vibrant marine life, the Philippines is following other Southeast Asian nations in reopening to tourists to drive job creation and aid economic recovery.

Thailand suspended its 'Test & Go' program due to concerns over the Omicron variant but will resume accepting applications from February 1. Meanwhile, Singapore and Malaysia eased their border restrictions in November, with Singapore adopting a 'living with Covid' approach moving forward.